Decorative miniature sled gift card holder

ABSTRACT

A decorative miniature sled gift card holder includes a deck, runners positioned beneath the deck, a gift card retention device, and a hanging device, with which the holder may be hung. The use of various types of sleds, such as sleds and sleighs with runners attached to the underside of the deck, as well as toboggans which incorporate wood runners on the underside of the deck, is contemplated. The gift card retention device includes at least a pair of vertical extensions affixed to opposite sides of the upper surface of the deck, which provide lateral alignment of a gift card on the deck. It may also include a stop attached to the upper surface at one end of the deck and horizontal extensions coupled directly to the vertical extensions, which provides longitudinal positioning of the card in one direction and within a horizontal plane overlying the deck, respectively.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates, generally, to gift card holders and, moreparticularly, to decorative gift card holders shaped like miniature snowsleds.

2. History of the Prior Art

Magnetic stripe plastic cards are extensively used for credit cards,debit cards, gift cards, hotel room access and a host of otherfunctions. Credit cards, in particular, are subjected to tremendousabuse. When carried in wallets, they are subject to constant bending,friction and abrasion. In addition, they are frequently swiped throughmagnetic readers. A sophisticated and complex manufacturing process hasresulted in credit cards that have an expected life span of three tofour years. Credit cards typically range in thickness from 0.25 mm to0.76 mm and are typically made up of two or three layers of PVC-relatedpolymers. Usually, one of the layers is screen printed, then a clear PVClayer is laminated on top. The printed surface, sandwiched between thetwo plastic sheets, typically acts as an adhesive. Solvent-based inks,though widely used, are gradually being replaced by ultraviolet-cureinks. The magnetic stripe on the back of a credit card is often called amagstripe. The magstripe is made up of tiny iron-based magneticparticles embedded in a plastic film. Each particle is really a tiny barmagnet about 20-millionths of an inch long. There are threeone-tenth-inch wide tracks on the magstripe: Track one is 210 bits perinch (bpi), and holds 796-bit plus parity bit read-only characters;track two is 75 bpi, and holds 40 4-bit plus parity bit read-onlycharacters; and track three is 210 bpi, and holds 107 4-bit plus paritybit readable and writable characters. Most banks utilize only the firsttwo tracks. The information encoded in track one includes the primaryaccount number, the country code, the card holder's name, and the cardexpiration date. The information in track two includes a repeat of theprimary account number, country code and expiration date.

A smart card resembles a credit card in size and shape, but inside it iscompletely different. Embedded in the plastic layers of a typical smartcard is an entire computer system, including an 8-bit microprocessor, upto 1 kilobyte of random-access memory (RAM), 24 kilobytes of read-onlymemory (ROM), and 16 kilobytes of programmable ROM. The function of themicroprocessor on the smart card is to limit access to data on the card.Through a card reader, a host computer communicates with the embeddedcomputer system. The smart card uses a serial interface and receives itspower from external sources like a card reader. The processor uses alimited instruction set for applications such as cryptography. Themicroprocessor is under a gold contact pad on one side of the card.Although in widespread usage in other parts of the world, the popularityof smart cards is just now beginning to take off in the United States.The most common smart card applications are: credit cards, electroniccash, computer security systems, wireless communication, loyalty systems(e.g., frequent flyer points), banking, satellite TV, and governmentidentification. Smart cards incorporating a radio-frequencyidentification (RFID) device may be interrogated by queried by atransmitting and receiving interrogator system that is not in intimatecontact with the card. The RFID device is usually passive (having noon-board power source, such as a battery) and generally includes anon-board antenna and an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC).The RFID device receives its operational energy from the interrogatorsystem, which must be in relatively close proximity. Within what istermed the surveillance zone, the interrogator system generatessufficient radio frequency power to excite, or interrogate, the RFIDdevice. When radio frequency energy emanating from the interrogatorantenna impinges on the RFID device, a current is induced in on-boardantenna. This induced current is routed to the ASIC, which then performsan initialization sequence. When the interrogator ceases transmittingits energy transmitting interrogation signal, the ASIC begins tobroadcast its identity and any other requested information over theon-board antenna. The transmission process utilizes low-energytransmission technology that selectively reflects the electromagneticenergy back to the interrogator at the same fundamental frequency as itwas received, using the board antenna as an energy radiator. Thetransmit/receive frequency employed is generally application dependent.Commonly available proximity interrogation systems operate atfrequencies within a range of 60 kHz to 5.8 GHz, and typically employfrequency modulation for data transmission. Information reflected byRFID device is decoded by the reader.

Gift cards, whether in the form of a magnetic card or a smart card, havebecome immensely popular among retailers and the buying public. Giftcards function like a debit card. Purchased by a donee using cash orcredit, an account is set up in the retailer's computer system for theamount tendered by the donee. The retailer then issues a card, whichidentifies the account and the tendered amount. After the card istransferred to a beneficiary, the beneficiary can pay for purchases, upto the account total, using the gift card. The purchase of a gift cardis the equivalent of a zero-interest loan made to the retailer by thedonee. If the beneficiary loses or forgets about the card, the purchaseof the gift card effectively becomes a gift to the retailer!

Although a gift card may represent any amount of tendered value—up tohundreds or even thousands of dollars in value, the card does not, in anof itself, make a very impressive gift. In the first place, a3.375-inch×2.125-inch×0.030-inch thick piece of plastic is notparticularly impressive. It also, most likely, represents a last minutegift decision on the part of the donee. In response to this phenomenon,the packaging industry has created a plethora of impressive gift boxesand holders for the gifting, presentation and storage of the gift cards.The present invention expands the scope of available decorative giftcard holders.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A primary object of the present invention is to provide an attractiveholder for presenting and displaying laminar rectangular gift cards. Thegift cards may be of the magnetic stripe, smart card type, or other typeas long as they are laminar and generally rectangular in shape. The giftcard holder is shaped like a snow sled, but in miniature, and includes adeck which, on a full-size sled, supports the riders, runners positionedbeneath the deck, a gift card retention device, and a hanging device,such as a wire or string, from which the gift card holder may be hung,for example, on a Christmas tree, as an ornament. The use of varioustypes of sleds, such as sleds and sleighs with runners attached to theunderside of the deck, as well as toboggans which incorporate woodrunners on the underside of the deck, is contemplated. The gift cardretention device includes at least a pair of vertical extensions affixedto opposite sides of the upper surface of the deck. The verticalextensions provide lateral alignment of a gift card on the deck. Thegift card retention device may also include a stop attached to the uppersurface at one end of the deck. The stop provides longitudinalpositioning of the gift card in one direction. The gift card retentiondevice may also include horizontal extensions coupled directly to thevertical extensions. The horizontal extensions position the gift cardwithin a horizontal plane overlying the sled deck.

The deck of the sled may be carved or machined from a single piece ofwood, may be built up from multiple pieces of wood, or it may be asingle piece or multiple assembled pieces, each of which is injectionmolded from a structural thermoplastic resin. Useable thermoplasticresins include acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), polyacrylates,low-density polyethylene (LDPE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE),polypropylene copolymer (PPC), polyvinylchloride (PVC). Alternatively,the deck may be cast or otherwise formed from a thermosetting resin.

A first embodiment of the sled gift card holder is a miniature sledhaving a deck mounted on a metal assembly, which includes a frame,spaced apart runners, and a steering bar mount. A steering bar, which issecured to the steering bar mount, is equipped with a piece of twine,which simulates a tow rope. Each end of the tow rope is connected to oneend of the steering bar. The tow rope can be used to hand the sled on aChristmas tree as an ornament. The deck is equipped with a pair ofparallel rails of generally inverted L-shaped cross section through amajor portion of their lengths, which extend longitudinally alongopposite upper outer edges of the deck, thereby forming a pair ofopposed grooves into which a laminar gift card the size of a standardcredit card can slide. An end portion of each rail has a generallyrectangular cross section, thereby providing a stop which locates thegift card, and prevents the card from sliding out from between thegrooved rails when the sled gift card holder is hung in a verticalorientation as an ornament.

A second embodiment of the sled gift card holder is a miniature tobogganhaving a deck with an upwardly curved front portion. A plurality oflateral braces, which are attached to the upper surface of the deck, areslotted to slidably receive a laminar gift card, which is therebymaintained adjacent the upper surface of the deck. A single lateralbrace, positioned most closely to the curved front portion, is unspottedso as to act as a card positioning stop which limits travel of the cardin the forward direction. Simulated control ropes, which can be made oftwine or wire, connect the curved front panel to each succeeding lateralbrace. The left control rope is connected to the right one via a loopwhich extends from one side of the rearmost brace to the other. The loopmay be used to hang the toboggan sled as an ornament on, for example, aChristmas tree.

A third embodiment of the sled gift card holder is a miniature sleighhaving a deck mounted on a metal assembly, which includes a frame andspaced apart runners. Generally vertical and parallel sides attached tothe deck provide a narrow slot into which a laminar gift card may beslid so that it is sandwiched between the parallel sides. A narrow shimwhich interconnects both sides at the rear end of the sleigh, limits aftmovement of an installed gift card. A cord, both ends of which areattached to a single or different sides, enables the miniature sleigh tobe hung as an ornament.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front-left-side isometric view of the first embodiment sledgift card holder, the front-right-side view thereof being a mirror imageof FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 is a front-left-side isometric view of the first embodiment sledgift card holder after a laminar gift card has been installed thereon;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the first embodiment sled gift cardholder;

FIG. 4 is a rear-left-side isometric view of the second embodiment sledgift card holder;

FIG. 5 is a rear-left-side isometric view of the second embodiment sledgift card holder after a laminar gift card has been installed therein;

FIG. 6 is a front-right-side isometric view of the third embodiment sledgift card holder; and

FIG. 7 is a front-right side isometric view of the third embodiment sledgift card holder after a laminar gift card holder has been installedtherein.

DETAILED DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a decorative gift card holder in the formof a miniature sled, for presenting and displaying laminar gift cardswhich are of generally rectangular shape. The miniature sled gift cardholder includes a deck which, on a full-size sled, supports the riders,runners positioned beneath the deck, a gift card retention device, and ahanging device, such as a wire or string, from which the gift cardholder may be hung, for example, on a Christmas tree, as an ornament.The use of various types of sleds, such as sleds and sleighs withrunners attached to the underside of the deck, as well as more simplesleds, such as toboggans, which incorporate wood runners on theunderside of the deck, is contemplated. A common feature of the varioustypes of gift card holders contemplated by this disclosure is that thegift card retention device includes at least a pair of verticalextensions affixed to opposite sides of the upper surface of the deck.The vertical extensions provide lateral alignment of a gift card on thedeck. The gift card retention device may also include a stop attached tothe upper surface at one end of the deck. The stop provides longitudinalpositioning of the gift card in one direction. The gift card retentiondevice may also include horizontal extensions coupled directly to thevertical extensions. The horizontal extensions position the gift cardwithin a horizontal plane overlying the sled deck. The invention willnow be described in detail with reference to the attached drawingfigures, which depict the various embodiments of the invention.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a first embodiment miniature sled gift cardholder 100 is in the shape of a sled of the type on which a rider liesin a prone, headfirst position on a deck 101 made from wood slats 101-A,101-B and 101-C while grasping a steering bar 102. The first embodimentsled gift card holder has a metal frame 103, which supports the deck101. The steering bar 102 is attached to a forward portion 103-F of themetal frame 103. A hanging device 104, which may be made of wire,string, cord, or monofilament line is attached to opposite ends of thesteering bar 102. It will be noted that a pair of vertical extensions105-A and 105-B are affixed to opposite sides of the upper surface 106of the deck 101. In addition, a horizontal extension 107-A and 107-B isdirectly coupled to each vertical extension 105-A and 105-B,respectively, with both horizontal extensions 107-A and 107-B extendingtowards one another. Together, the vertical extensions (105-A, 105-B)and horizontal extensions (107-A, 107-B), along with the upper surface106 of the deck 101, form a pair of opposed longitudinal grooves 108-Aand 108-B that extend nearly the entire length of the deck 101. It willbe further noted that at the end of each groove 108-A and 108-B, thereis a stop 109-A and 109-B (not visible in this view) that blocks therearmost end of each groove 108-A and 108-B.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the first embodiment sled gift card holder 100is shown after a laminar, generally rectangular gift card 201 has beeninstalled thereon. It will be noted that the vertical extensions 105-Aand 105-B laterally align the gift card 201 on the deck 101, the stops109-A and 109-B limit longitudinal movement of the gift card 201 in arearward direction, and the horizontal extensions 107-A and 107-Bposition the gift card 201 within a horizontal plane overlying the sleddeck 101.

Referring now to FIG. 3, this bottom view of the first embodimentminiature sled gift card holder 100 shows additional details of themetal frame 103. It can be seen how a curved front portion 103-C of themetal frame 103 joins right and left portions 103-R and 103-L,respectively. A pair of lateral braces 301-F and 301-R, which supportthe deck 101, interconnect the right and left portions 103-R and 103-Lof the metal frame 103. Right and left runners 302-R and 302-L,respectively, are rigidly attached to the right and left portions 103-Rand 103-L, respectively, of the metal frame 103. It will be noted thatan overhand knot 303 secures each end of the hanging device 105 withinthe steering bar 102.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a second embodiment miniature sled gift cardholder 400 is in the shape of a primitive type of sled usually referredto as a toboggan. A toboggan is fabricated from at least one generallylaminar slat 401 having a generally planar rear portion, or deck, 401-R,and an upwardly curved front portion 401-F. For ease of manufacture, andbecause this miniature toboggan 400 is subjected to little, if any,stress, the curved front portion 401-F and the planar rear portion 401-Rof this miniature model may be made from separate pieces which arebonded together. A plurality of lateral braces 402-A, 402-B, 402-C,402-D and 402-E are attached to the upper surface of the deck 401-R. Ona full-size toboggan, the lateral braces are used to tie multiple slats401 together and reinforce the deck 401-R. On the miniature secondembodiment model 400, the last four lateral braces 402-B, 402-C 402-Dand 402-E are equipped with slots 403, thereby enabling them to slidablyreceive a laminar gift card, which is thereby maintained adjacent theupper surface of the deck. A first lateral brace 402-A, which ispositioned most closely to the curved front portion 401-F, is unslottedso as to act as a card positioning stop which limits travel of the cardin the forward direction. A simulated right control rope 404-R, whichcan be made of string, twine, wire, or monofilament line, is securedthrough an aperture in the uppermost right corner 405 of the curvedfront portion 401F with an overhand knot 406, and connects the rightcorner 405 with the right ends of each of the lateral braces 402-A,402-B, 402-C, 402-D and 402-E, in succession. Likewise, a simulated leftcontrol rope 404-L, is secured through an aperture in the uppermost leftcorner 407 of the curved front portion 401-F, and connects the leftcorner 407 with the left ends of each of the lateral braces 402-A,402-B, 402-C, 402-D and 402-E, in succession. The right and left controlropes 404-R and 404-L, respectively, are interconnected via a loop 408,which extends from one side of the rearmost brace 402-E to the otherside thereof. The loop 408, which forms a hanging device, may be used tohang the second embodiment toboggan sled 400 as an ornament on, forexample, a Christmas tree.

Referring now to FIG. 5, the second embodiment toboggan sled gift cardholder 400 is shown after a laminar, generally rectangular gift card 201has been installed thereon. It will be noted that the slots 403 of thelateral braces 402-B, 402-C, 402-D and 402-E have vertical andhorizontal extensions, although the horizontal extensions, representedby the uppermost portion 501 of each slotted brace 402-B, 402-C, 402-Dand 402-E, are interconnected. The unspotted lateral brace 402-A acts asthe stops 109-A and 109-B of FIGS. 2 and 3.

Referring now to FIG. 6, a third embodiment of the sled gift card holderis a miniature sleigh 600 having a deck 601 mounted on front and rearlateral metal braces 602-F and 602-R, respectively. Spaced-apart rightand left runners 603-R and 603-L, respectively, are attached to themetal braces 602-F and 602-R with spirally-shaped support structures604. Generally vertical and parallel, spaced-apart sides 605-R and 605-Lare attached to the deck 601 and, between themselves, form a narrow slot606 into which a laminar gift card may be slid so that it is sandwichedbetween the parallel sides 605-R and 605-L. A shim 606, having athickness not much greater than the thickness of a laminar gift card,interconnects both sides 605-R and 605-L at the rear end 607 of thesleigh 600, and limits aft movement of an installed gift card. A hangingdevice 608, which can be made of string, twine, wire, or monofilamentline cord, can be attached to a single side (605-R or 605-L) or bothsides (605-R and 605-L), thereby enabling the miniature sleigh 600 to behung as an ornament. It will be noted that the ends of the hangingdevice 608 pass through apertures in the sides 605-R and 605-L, and eachis secured with an overhand knot 609.

Referring now to FIG. 7, the third embodiment miniature sled gift cardholder 600 is shown after a laminar, generally rectangular gift card 201has been installed within the narrow slot 606. It will be noted that thevertical sides 605-R and 605-L laterally align the gift card 201 on thedeck 601, and the narrow shim 606, which functions as a stop, limitsrearward longitudinal travel of the gift card 201 within the narrow slot606.

Although only several embodiments of the present invention have beendisclosed herein, it will be obvious to those having ordinary skill inthe art that changes and modifications may be made thereto withoutdeparting from the scope and spirit of the invention as hereinafter maybe claimed.

1. A decorative miniature sled gift card holder comprising: a deck;runners positioned beneath the deck; a gift card retention device; and ahanging device, from which the gift card holder may be hung.
 2. Thedecorative miniature sled gift card holder of claim 1, wherein saidhanging device is selected from the group consisting of wire, string,cord and monofilament line.
 3. The decorative miniature sled gift cardholder of claim 1, wherein said gift card retention device comprise atleast a pair of vertical extensions affixed to opposite sides of anupper surface of the deck.
 4. The decorative miniature sled gift cardholder of claim 3, wherein The vertical extensions provide lateralalignment of a gift card on the deck.
 5. The decorative miniature sledgift card holder of claim 3, wherein said gift card retention devicefurther comprises at least one stop attached to said upper surface atone end of the deck.
 6. The decorative miniature sled gift card holderof claim 5, wherein said at least one stop limits longitudinal movementof a gift card in a single direction.
 7. The decorative miniature sledgift card holder of claim 3 which further comprises a horizontalextension directly coupled to each vertical extension, said horizontalextensions extending towards one another from said vertical extensions.8. The decorative miniature sled gift card holder of claim 7, whereinsaid horizontal extensions position a gift card within a horizontalplane overlying the sled deck.
 9. The decorative miniature sled giftcard holder of claim 1, which further comprises a metal frame whichsupports said deck, and wherein said runners are also made of metal, andare securely affixed to a frame.
 10. The decorative miniature sled giftcard holder of claim 9, which further comprises a steering bar affixedto a forward portion of said frame.
 11. The decorative miniature sledgift card holder of claim 1, wherein said runners are unitary with deck.12. The decorative miniature sled gift card holder of claim 1, whereinsaid deck is made of wood.
 13. A decorative miniature sled gift cardholder comprising: a deck; runners positioned beneath the deck; a giftcard retention device which maintains at least an edge of a laminar giftcard generally in contact with the deck; and a hanging device, fromwhich the gift card holder may be hung.
 14. The decorative miniaturesled gift card holder of claim 13, wherein said hanging device isselected from the group consisting of wire, string, cord andmonofilament line.
 15. The decorative miniature sled gift card holder ofclaim 13, wherein said gift card retention device comprise at least apair of vertical extensions affixed to opposite sides of an uppersurface of the deck, said vertical extensions providing lateralalignment of a gift card on the deck.
 16. The decorative miniature sledgift card holder of claim 15, wherein said gift card retention devicefurther comprises at least one stop attached to said upper surface atone end of the deck, said at least one stop limiting longitudinalmovement of a gift card in one direction.
 17. The decorative miniaturesled gift card holder of claim 15, which further comprises a horizontalextension directly coupled to each vertical extensions, said horizontalextensions extending towards one another from said vertical extensions,and providing positioning of a gift card within a horizontal planeoverlying the sled deck.
 18. The decorative miniature sled gift cardholder of claim 13, which further comprises a metal frame which supportssaid deck, and wherein said runners are also made of metal, and aresecurely affixed to a frame.
 19. The decorative miniature sled gift cardholder of claim 18, which further comprises a steering bar affixed to aforward portion of said frame.
 20. The decorative miniature sled giftcard holder of claim 13, wherein said runners are unitary with deck.